Peripheral nerve regeneration: comparison of laminin and acidic fibroblast growth factor.
OBJECTIVE
In an effort to show the differences between neurotrophic factors, laminin and acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) were compared in terms of their abilities to regenerate axons in vivo over an extended distance.


METHODS
The sciatic nerve was transected in 15 Sprague-Dawley rats. A 15-mm Silastic tube (Dow Corning, Midland, MI) was placed between the ends of the cut nerve and filled with either laminin, aFGF, or buffer applied to collagen sponges.


RESULTS
Ten weeks postimplantation, mean axon counts showed that both laminin (2432) and aFGF (1612) produced significantly higher numbers of axons than controls (1009) (P < .05) and that laminin showed significantly more nerve regeneration than aFGF (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that laminin and aFGF enhance peripheral nerve regeneration across a large gap, presumably through their neurotrophic effects and mitogenic properties on supporting cells. Furthermore, it is concluded that the transient nature of aFGF's effect on the regenerative environment limits its effectiveness at regenerating axons over a prolonged period of time.
Trigg
D J
DJ
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, IL, USA.
O'Grady
K M
KM
Bhattacharyya
T
T
Reinke
M
M
Toriumi
D M
DM
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007797:Laminin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000502:physiology
D007797:Laminin; D016220:Fibroblast Growth Factor 1